Can't keep horses, what options do we have?

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Dampier

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Hello,

We live in a small town in Northern Ireland in county Tyrone. My grandfather is 87 years old now and for the last few years because of the cold winters he could not get to them, one morning in december 4 years ago we got a call that he couldn't make it down on his own and perhaps we could help him out, since then my father has been feeding them everyday along with some help from me (his son) and my uncle (his brother). My grandfather slowed down and couldn't make it down at all , so we have been trying to sell the horses but no luck. So we got them broken for riding which we thought would calm them down and help the sale but no luck (they are both stallion's), as of late it seems the 2 horses want to fight, seemly because of their age etc. Anyways long story cut short, many people around here say that sending them for meat is a fast way to get rid. But we won't do that. We have even decided to give them for free to good homes but nothing (tried gumtree). I found this forum so i thought i'd try my chances here and maybe something will come up or people could guide us better, we are not horse people and my grandfather is too old so we are lost with 2 really nice horses. With the correct people they would go far, We've done our best.

so I'm wondering what options we have now... ?
 
Sorry to hear about your granda.

Did you try Crosskennan Lane animal sanctuary? You could post your message on their page on FB. There is also Holly's Horse Haven, they are for desperate cases but there are plenty of people they could get the word out to.

Hopefully someone here will be able to help. Use discretion, even with Gumtree, there are some shysters out there!

Did you try putting the word out among local riding school/riding club/vets for someone looking for a project?

They'd be a much more attractive prospect gelded, though x
 
Not many people can take stallions so this is your biggest problem.
Are you able to have them gelded?
That would really help.

Unfortunately the market for horses is really poor at present and even horses without any issues aren't selling.

Good luck, not an easy situation but I'm glad to see that you and your family have taken care of these horses. So many just get abandoned in Ireland at present.
 
Can you get them both gelded, they will be more likely to have a chance of finding a home then and it should also stop them fighting.
There are so many horses at the moment that are unwanted it is hard to sell any, or even give them away and I believe it is worse in Ireland than over here.
 
I second getting them gelded, they will have a better future if you can do this!
How old are they and do you know their breeding?
 
2 fully matured stallions will fight!

They are at least 4-5 years old. You are lucky there are (hopefully) no mares around and they havent killed each other yet.

One option - get them gelded. Fast

I am sorry about your situation and dont want to sound harsh, but you need to get them gelded fast. Speak to your vet.
Bear in mind at that age, it might not stop them continuing to fight.
 
Thanks for the amazing replies from everyone :) It's been great to see so many people giving their advice and helping us out. ;)

Fii said:
I second getting them gelded, they will have a better future if you can do this!
How old are they and do you know their breeding?
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One is a Connemara at about 4 years old 13hh

The other from what i understand is a bay colt so it seems he is a cross breed? the book says unknown , he is 14hh nearly 15hh and is 4 year old also

ps. We have seperated them to different fields to stop the fights
 
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a nice 4yr old connamara should be a nice little project for somebody if gelded. Connemara's tend to sell quite well. If I hadnt just got my self a project Id be interested in the 14-15 hh one. But again only if gelded. So there are people out there. I would get them gelded and sell for enough to cover your gelding costs plus the cost of a decent advert somewhere like horsemart or horse & hound. Get somebody horsey to write the ad. Wording can make a huge diference. The adverts seam expensive but you will get more interest.
 
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I agree with everyone geld them ASAP and you will find homes for them .
It's a sad time but gelded they have every chance of going out into the world and having great lives.
 
Geld them ASAP they then have a much better chance of finding a home. Then advertise them everywhere you can including Horse and Hound.
 
Horsesforever1 said:
Geld them ASAP they then have a much better chance of finding a home. Then advertise them everywhere you can including Horse and Hound.
Click to expand...

I think (may need to be corrected) its approx £300/400 to have them gelded, advertise them as £500 for a project horse, take an offer and you have still covered your costs of gelding and advertising and they will go off to a nice new home. :D

And well done for looking after them so far, esp as you said you are not horsey people, lots of people would of just left them - Thank you :)
 
Dampier I'm in Fermanagh, may be able to help you if you want to send me a private message (go to UserCP top left of the brown banner). I agree they would be better gelded, and it won't cost nearly as much as £300 (local vet to you charges under £100). Horses aren't even making meat money at the sales over here, so not surprised you are having problems finding someone to take them on. If they went for meat you'd get next to nothing, and seems a shame to do that.

Whereabouts in Tyrone are you?
 
from what we have been told by the local vet its 69£ plus vat .. so around 170 for both to be done.


@ Rowreach > will pm you now :)
 
Thats really very reasonable Dampier. my yearlings were gelded last year and it cost just over £200 each.[£400+] Thats about 500 euros [I think]
 
hi, no i dont know anyone that could take them. i think they would need to be separated by electric fence now in field and gelded now, as all colts/stallions will fight wheather playing ir in agression. apart from that donedeal.ie free to good home, separate homes. hope they get a good home soon.
 
Sorry to repeat everyone else! - but definitely agree that getting them gelded is the best idea. Not many people are willing to take on stallions, they need to be handled correctly and many livery yards don't accept stallions, so unless people have their own land and are experienced in keeping stallions, they will be put off by this alone - despite how well natured they are. Unless they're very well bred, people won't want to breed from them, and people are MUCH more likely to rehome a gelding than a stallion - connemaras especially are very popular ponies.
The rates you've been given for gelding sound very reasonable, I'm sure you could make that money back. As others have suggested, project horses is a good site and sounds like it would be most suitable for these two, horsemart is very popular too. I wouldn't advertise them as 'free to good homes' though, unfortunately you hear so many horrible stories about people who take them and then sell them for meat etc to make a bit of quick money. It's best to put a price such as £500 on, just to sift out the dodgier buyers.
As mypinkpony said, a huge well done to you for looking after them and trying to secure their futures, it can't be easy if you're not horsey! Please let us know if you want us to check over adverts or explain any "horsey" terms to you, we'd be happy to help you.
 
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Just to give you a different view on this, sending these horses for meat is not the very worst thing you could do for them, as long as they go direct to where they are to be put to sleep and it is a reasonable travelling distance.

In my view, giving them away or selling them very cheap could set them up for a lifetime of being passed around, neglected or otherwise being thoroughly miserable and if you truly care about their future wellbeing you need to bear this in mind.
 
Been chatting to OP by PM and suggested some contacts, but anyone else with local contacts or with any ideas please throw them out there :) I've asked for some pics, but it sounds like a swift solution is required, and I can't take them myself ...
 
Will do my best to grab pics tonight, Row has given me some names that i'll get a look at and we are located in Strabane. Forgot to mention that in the first post :rolleyes:
 
Some really good advice from other members. OP- hope you find a lovely home for them both soon, well done for looking after them, great to know there are lovely people out there. Its hard in a situation like this when your horsey, let alone if your not.

Good luck and keep us updated :)
 
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whitehorse2.jpg


sorry it took so long for pics, been busy :) as an update i want to say last night we had people come take a look but because of their mares they could'nt. Tomorrow we have someone coming to look (heard about it here) and another one who has interest if tomorrow doesn't go well, hopefully with luck they will get shifted soon :). Also we know the people coming one is well known in the area for horses and the other is a family relation (far out but families in ireland go far :rolleyes:), so a good ending if they go to one of these!

will update soon ;)

ps. Connemara is abit dirty because he was in for a couple of hours today to let the other horse out in the long grass to be fair. But he had plenty of water and hay with some meal :) just incase anyone wonders ^^
 
Dampier, please make sure that who ever has them gelds them, then they can "have a life" and be useful riding sorts. They both look very nice BTW. I do hope you can get something suitable sorted soon for them both.
 
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